• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

1978 GS 750 Indiana Barn Bike rescue

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ledyard
  • Start date Start date
Last edited:
Ledyard, all the tutorials you find here and in Basscliff's site are good and will lead you to happiness, so it really makes no difference which you use, the guys have used them hundreds of times and all the kinks have been ironed out a long time ago.
 
Am making a little progress.... I've pulled the seat, the tank, all the fiddly little things. I have yet to get into the heart of the matter, meaining the engine, the carbs, etc. Learning as I go.

Thought I'd post a few pics of the tank, seat, and my first look at the very dirty insides.

suzuki071_zpsf360cbfd.jpg


suzuki099_zps719d206b.jpg


IMG]http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o724/Ledyard61/suzuki099_zps719d206b.jpg[/IMG]

suzuki098_zps1cf5c0c4.jpg


suzuki089_zpscd811e61.jpg


suzuki088_zps5c8f3bdc.jpg


suzuki069_zps08a8582f.jpg
 
...and maybe a Big Preliminary Question here: I've never tried to get the engine to turn. Before I get any farther in the tear down, should I get some oil, gas, new battery and plugs in the bike and try to start it?
 
Wrestled the plugs out last night and sprayed PB Blaster thoroughly into the holes. Now waiting for it to work its magic. I'll hit them again with the PB Blaster tonight.

WD40 smells great; PB Blaster.... does not.
 
Check your air box for critters and make sure your oil and filter are ok, a plugged filter or bad oil will do more harm than good.
Leave the plugs out for a bit while you crank, how is the carbs?
 
Careful

Careful

Ledyard said:
Wrestled the plugs out last night and sprayed PB Blaster thoroughly into the holes. Now waiting for it to work its magic. I'll hit them again with the PB Blaster tonight.

WD40 smells great; PB Blaster.... does not.
Click to expand...

Good way to bend a connecting rod if you try to actually start it with all that PB in there; crank it without sparkplugs in it to blow out most of the 'Blaster when you get a battery hooked up to it. Put a couple of rags over the plug holes when you do the blow-out, or do it outside. :)
 
Ledyard said:
...and maybe a Big Preliminary Question here: I've never tried to get the engine to turn. Before I get any farther in the tear down, should I get some oil, gas, new battery and plugs in the bike and try to start it?
Click to expand...

Don't worry much about the oil. It doesn't deteriorate with time.

Get the engine turning over by hand, adjust the valves and such.

Once you get it to run and warm up, then change the oil.

New gas, however, is essential

Yes to a new battery and plugs
 
Thanks for the help guys - love this forum!

Here's the plan through the weekend -- more PB Blaster tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow, and keep trying to turn it by hand. (So far it is locked up tighter than a face lift); Saturday - change the oil and filter just for good measure; clean out the air box of any critters, living or dead; if I can get the engine to turn by hand, I'll blow out the PB Blaster with the plug holes covered with a rag, then put new plugs in. If it still won't budge, I'll keep at it. If it can turn by hand, then, and only then, would I put the fuel tank back on, put in new gas, put in a new battery and see if she starts.

If it does start, then I'll resume tear-down.
 
Have you pulled the valve cover and had a look ? Since the engine won't turn over, it would be a good idea just to make sure everything seems "normal" in there. :)
 
Big T said:
Don't worry much about the oil. It doesn't deteriorate with time.
Click to expand...
Actually it does. The temp changes over time will break down the viscosity index improvers.

Probably best to change it any ways especially if the oil has any acids in it.

Put the engine in a higher gear and rock it back and forth every so often.
 
Critters! (pic)

Critters! (pic)

I removed the air box cover last night. It appears the Barn Bike has been well-used as a mouse motel for awhile.

suzuki112_zpsa5493057.jpg


I reattached the kick start lever last night and have been trying to get the engine to move by hand. No dice. Yet. The gear shift lever is also non-responsive -- any tips on getting the bike into different gears?
 
Holy Kamolee :eek: there is a whole eco system going on in there.
Try rocking the bike back and forth while applying pressure to the gearshift lever.
If you can get it to click into gear, then, like Dale says, the best way to get the motor loose is to rock her back and forth in gear.
 
Got the engine to turn with the kick starter. :) Progress!
 
Last edited:
A great project

A great project

Welcome to the rebuild thread. You have a project which is very similar to mine. I would love to know what you intend to do to clean up the engine. Soda blasting, vapour blasting or whatever?

Greetings
 
Thanks for the welcome, Londonboards. I haven't begun to think of the outside of the engine yet -- a little preoccupied with the inside, and a million other things. After I get the bike dismantled, I want to focus on the carburetors first, then... everything else. I'll check out your project.
 
Looking through this thread I got a bit of satisfaction that you got the thing to turn over. There was one post that a member had no problem after getting a stuck motor turning again, but I hope that you understand Ledyard that you may still have to get into that motor and change a head gasket or even rings. You'll know when it starts and the blue smoke cometh.

I would also open up the oil pan and make sure that the pick up is clean in addition to the good suggestions you have already got.
 
wedoo2 said:
I hope that you understand Ledyard that you may still have to get into that motor and change a head gasket or even rings. You'll know when it starts and the blue smoke cometh...
Click to expand...

Indeed, I will need to get into the motor. I realize I've got a long, long way to go. Just starting, really. But, I have the right attitude, no deadlines, interest, a workable budget. I think I've got a motorcycle that deserves to be rescued.

It's going to be a beautiful bike.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
New to forum, new GS1000E, but not new to motorcycling or GS bikes
Replies
11
Views
4K
Guest
G
Back
Top